Improvement in bracelets



, H. J. BEUGNIES.

Bracelet.

No; 214,874. Patented April 29, I879.

N-PEIERS. PHOTO-LITHDQRAFHHE, WASHJNGTDN. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

HUBERT J. BEUGNIES, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IM PROVEMENT IN BRACELETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,874, dated April 29, 1879; application filed .March 6, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUBERT J. BEUGNIES, at present residing in Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Bracelets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coiled bracelets, scarf or finger rings, and similar articles composed of a continuous band of metal, which encircles spirally the wearers Wrist or other object, as distinguished from clasp bracelets or rings composed of sections hinged together and confined about the wrist by a clasp.

Heretoforein the manufacture.ofcoiled-band bracelets they have been composed of hollow sections united by'a band-spring of steel passing through the series. The objection to these bracelets has been that they lose their original elasticity, and become distended by use, and do not preserve their proper place upon the wearers wrist, but slip up the arm, causing annoyance and inconvenience, and are liable to slip over the hand and be lost.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a coiled metallic bracelet which may be made to fit closely to the owners wrist, and yet possess sufficient elasticity to permit it to be readily passed about such wrist and return to its original size, thereby avoiding the objections above named, my invention being also applicable to finger and scarf rings and other analogous articles of ornament or wear.

To accomplish my object, I make the coiled band of a tube of any desired shape in crosssection, whether round, oblong, or polygonal, as taste or fashion may dictate; and I do not solder or otherwise generally unite the edges of the strip of metal, but simply abut them more or less closely together, and dispose the seam upon the in side of the coils, so that when upon the wearers wrist or finger or other object the seam is not visible.

By this means I attain an elasticity which permits the bracelet to be expanded or distended circumferentially to the extent necessary to permit it to be coiled or wound tightly about the wrist or finger, so as to simply inclose the latter.

The drawings accompanying this specification represent, in Figure 1, a perspective view, and in Fig. 2 a cross-section, of a bracelet embodying my invention.

In producing this bracelet or ring, &c., I provide a strip of thin metal, preferably gold of fine quality, and form'this strip into a long tube or hollow band, A, of the desired shape 1n cross-section, and abut the edges more or less closely together, as shown at a, centrally upon one side of the tube, but do not solder or otherwise unite these abutting edges, and, in fact, it is not necessary that they should meet.

Having provided the tube A, as stated, I next proceed to fill it with a fusible metal or other substance, and then bend the tube into the form it is definitely to assume, and which is represented in the accompanying drawings as a spiral coil in the design of a snake. I next drill several holes I) I) through the'inner side of the band, and place the coil in an acid solution which has access to the filling through these holes, and to some extent through joint a, and dissolves and removes such filling.

If a space exists between the edges of the band the latter is to be bent into shape by other means than the filling last named.

The interior diameter of the coil is to be such as to fit the wrist of the wearer with the desired closeness, and in putting it on the wrist it is to be wound or coiled (beginning at one end) about it in a manner as will readily explain itself to all intelligent persons.

In Winding the bracelet about the wrist, finger, or other object, as stated, it is distended longitudinally to a considerable extent. If the band were solid, or if its edges were confined together, the coil would not return to its original position, from lack of elasticity, but would set in its distended condition. By permitting play or slip between the edges of the band. I obtain an elasticity which is not otherwise to be had.

If an ornament or attachment is to be added to the ends or other portion of the coiled band, care should be taken that it does not confine both edges of the same. For example, I have shown, in the present instance, this attachment as the head of a snake, and this head is brazed or soldered to the outside of the band,

leaving the edges free to slip upon one another. At one end of the band-for instance, the tail of the snake-the edges may, ifdesired,

- be soldered or brazed together without injurious eftects.

In the manufacture of my bracelet or ring I have obtained the best results from the employment of gold of good grade, and, though this may not be absolutely essential, I prefer to confine myself to it, as I have thus far found it desirable.

In lieu of a snake, as herein shown, any de- 

